Appeals against Paddy McKillen Jr’s boutique hotel plans in Dublin

Paddy McKillen Jr’s plans for a boutique hotel, complete with a roof-top restaurant, in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh have been thrown into question.

Seven separate appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against Dublin City Council’s decision to give the five-floor, 41-bedroom hotel scheme the go-ahead.

The plan — proposed for 117-119 Ranelagh — is to also contain a 50-seat arthouse cinema in its basement.

Mr McKillen is seeking to add the hotel to his Press Up Entertainment Group portfolio, which includes the Everleigh Garden nightclub, the Dean Hotel, and the Workman’s Club in Temple Bar.

Planning for a five-storey, mixed-use development on the site was granted in 2007 but never proceeded.

One appellant, local resident Rory Boyd, stated that the references in the planning application to the 2007 plan “when the Celtic Tiger stalked the land are hardly meaningful or relevant today”.

Mr Boyd said the hotel plan that provides for no car-parking will only add to traffic congestion in the area.

He said the DoubleTree by Hilton, the Hampton Hotel, and the Hilton hotel are all nearby.

The general manager of the Dean Hotel, Bryan Davern, has written to one of the objectors, Peter McLaughlin, to state that he passionately believes “that this particular hotel model would be a real asset to Ranelagh village”.